Black American Sheet Music Collection
The Bank of America Black American Sheet Music Collection consists of approximately 4000 pieces of published sheet music reflecting the influences of African Americans on popular music in the United States. The music was created by, performed by, published by, or portrays Black and African American themes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States. The collection highlights popular vocal music, jazz, big band, and swing music published in the United States. The earliest piece in the collection dates to 1818, and the latest editions date into the 1980s, thereby giving a chronicle of the evolution of Black-inspired music in America for almost 200 years. Some imagery and lyrics in this collection reflect harmful racist depictions of Black people and are included in the collections for their use in academic research.
Content Warning:
USF Libraries’ Digital Collections include historical and primary sources from many cultures and time periods. Some content may be harmful, graphic, difficult to view, or reflect biases. Digital Collections provides access to these materials to preserve the historical record, but we do not endorse the attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors found within them. USF Libraries’ is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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Perhaps
Paul Denniker, May Singhi Breen, and Andy Razaf
The piano and vocal score for "Perhaps" with music by Paul Denniker and lyrics by Andy Razaf. Also included is a ukelele arrangement by May Singhi Breen.
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Petite Suite de Concert
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
The piano score for the "Petite Suite de Concert" by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a Black composer.
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Plantation Love Song
Ruth McEnery Stuart and Deems Taylor
The piano and vocal score for the "Plantation Love Song" with music by Deems Taylor and lyrics by Ruth McEnery Stuart. Inscribed to Marguerite Dunlap.
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Plantation Melodies
Eugene Walter
The piano score for "Plantation Melodies" arranged by Eugene Walter. The score seems to be snippets from several Stephen Collins Foster songs.
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Poor Juna
James G. Clark and Armstrong
The piano score for "Poor Juna" arranged by James G. Clark with music by "Miss Armstrong." Sung by Ossian's Bards.
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Popular Song Album of George H. Primrose and His Famous Minstrel Company
Christopher M. Smith, John Larkins, Joseph W. Stern, Edward B. Marks, and Clare Beecher Kummer
A selection of sheet music from George H. Primrose's minstrel company. Includes the score "Shame on You!" by Christopher M. Smith, a Black composer and performer, and John Larkins; "Take These Flowers, Old Lady" by Edward B. Marks and Joseph W. Stern; "A Rich Coon's Babe" by Clare Kummer; and samples of other minstrel show songs.
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Ragging the Scale
Edward B. Claypoole
The piano score for "Ragging the Scale" by Edward B. Claypoole.
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Rain Song
Will Marion Cook and Alexander Claude Rogers
The piano and vocal score for "Rain-Song," composed by Will Marion Cook, a Black composer, and lyrics by Alexander Rogers.
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Ramblin' Sam
Harry Williams and Jean Schwartz
The score for "Ramblin' Sam" with music by Jean Schwartz and lyrics by Harry Williams.
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Rap, Rap, Rap, on Your Minstrel Bones
Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown
Words by Lew Brown. Music by Albert Von Tilzer.
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Read 'Em and Weep, A
Albert Bernard and Walter Haenschen
Words by Albert Bernard. Music by Walter Haenschen.
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Read 'Em and Weep, B
Albert Bernard and Walter Haenschen
Pages 1 and 3 of the piano and vocal score for "Read 'Em and Weep" with music by Walter Haenschen and lyrics by Albert Bernard.
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Rememb'ring
Rosetta Duncan, Vivian Duncan, and Sam H. Harris
The piano and vocal score for "Rememb'ring" arranged by Sam H. Harris in "Topsy and Eva." The song was written by the Duncan Sisters, Rosetta Duncan and Vivian Duncan.
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Reuben
F. D.R. Warner and F. T. Atkins
The piano score for "Reuben" composed by F.D.R. Warn and F.T. Atkins. Dedicated to and playbed by the Smith College Banjo Club and the Amherst College Banjo Club.
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Ring de Banjo
Stephen Collins Foster
The piano and vocal score for "Ring de Banjo" by Stephen Collins Foster.
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Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody
Jean Schwartz, Sam M. Lewis, and Joe Young
The piano and vocal score for "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" with music by Jean Schwartz and lyrics by Joe Young and Sam M. Lewis.
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Rockin' in de Win', High G
William H. Neidlinger
The piano and vocal score for "Rockin' in de Win'" by William Neidlinger.
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Rockin' in de Win', Low E
William H. Neidlinger
The piano and vocal score for "Rockin' in de Win'" by William Neidlinger.
